Outline

The Emotional Brain is a user-friendly guide.

• Simple ways to understand the brain
• A healthy emotional brain & how it develops
• 7 primary emotional systems
• How trauma and disrupted attachment alter the brain
• 3 neuroscience breakthroughs that change how we treat trauma
• Resilience, connection and post-traumatic growth

There is a model of trauma-informed treatment. There are interventions for assessment, safety and stabilization.

• 5 simple questions to assess for PTSD
• Beyond words: build trust and safety with right brain to right brain communication
• Help clients understand trauma responses
• Calm fear with mindfulness and imagery techniques
• Deal with dissociation: practical tools for grounding and orienting
• Shift shame and nurture self-compassion
• Defuse anger with play and humor
• Empower with movement and metaphor

Reprocessing traumatic memories is a less painful approach.

• Revise not relive: why exposure can retraumatize
• Memory reconsolidation: a mechanism for healing trauma
• 5 simple steps for reconsolidating a traumatic memory
• Create the future-self template and the brain’s blueprint for healing
• Neutralize negative beliefs with resourceful emotional states
• Facilitate corrective emotional experiences with powerful imagery, metaphor, music and movement techniques

Enhancing Post-Traumatic Growth.

• The 3 qualities of post-traumatic growth
• Create a positive post-trauma identity
• Nurture a secure attachment system after trauma
• Find meaning and purpose after trauma
• Happiness and the power of intention

There are applications for special populations.

• Sexual trauma survivors
• Childhood abuse and neglect
• Traumatic grief after sudden or violent deaths
• Medical trauma, car accidents and disasters
• Military, police and first responders
• Children and adolescents after trauma
• Cultures and faith traditions
• Prevent burnout and vicarious trauma